To the point

In such a tough conference, the Orange has to keep winning its home games. Syracuse needs to feed off the energy of another huge crowd and forget about its loss at Pitt.

Three points

1. Syracuse is 1-3 against Louisville since the Cardinals joined the Big East in 2005-06.2. Syracuse's Jim Boeheim is third on the NCAA's list for most Division I coaching victories behind Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and UConn's Jim Calhoun with 788 career wins. Louisville's Rick Pitino is No. 16 on the list with 535 coaching wins.3. In Big East games only, Syracuse ranks second in the conference in scoring at 79.0 points per game. Louisville leads the Big East in scoring defense, allowing just 62.4 points per game.

Inside the stats

Arinze Onuaku is 29-for-82 (35.4 percent) from the foul line this season. However, in seven Big East games, Onuaku is just 6-of-32 or 18.7 percent.

Who's hot

In his nine games as a starter, Andy Rautins has led Syracuse in scoring five times. He's averaged 13.8 points in those nine games.

Matchups

Position

Louisville

Syracuse

Prime matchup:Power forward

5-Earl Clark
Jr., 6-8, 220

Probably the most versatile scorer in the Big East. Good shooter and very good in the post also.

00-Rick Jackson
So., 6-9, 240

Jackson's improvement on offense has made him a scoring threat inside. Now, he must adjust as he attracts more double-teams in the post.

Point guard

10-Edgar Sosa
Jr., 6-1, 175

Very good shooter but streaky. He's been coming along the last couple of games.

10-Jonny Flynn
So., 6-0, 185

Flynn is coming off his worst game of the season -- 3-for-14 shooting vs. Pitt. He needs to bounce back quick.

Shooting guard

31-Jerry Smith
Jr., 6-1, 200

A tough competitor. He's their defensive leader.

1-Andy Rautins
Jr., 6-5, 205

Rautins is shooting 46.1 percent from 3-point range in Big East games. He could be a key if Louisville goes zone.

Harris loves to play D. Good thing. He goes from defending Pitt's Sam Young to Louisville's Terrence Williams.

Center

24-Samardo Samuels
Fr., 6-8, 240

A good inside presence. A banger. Attacks the offensive and defensive glass very hard.

21-Arinze Onuaku
Jr., 6-9, 275

Onuaku's battle with Samardo Samuels will be a key matchup today. Onuaku must do what he did to Luke Harangody.

On the court

Louisville bench

Preston Knowles can score for them. He's very good from 3-point range. Andre McGee has struggled some from the three this year. Will Scott's another shooter. They don't have much depth up front except for Terrence Jennings.

An assistant coach familiar with Louisville provided the "On the Court" tip as well as a rundown on the Cardinals' starters and bench.

Mike's mailbox

Post-Standard basketball writer Mike Waters answers readers' questions about the Orange, the Big East, all of college basketball and just about anything else.

Q: While I don't have any facts to back up my observation, it seems that SU's free-throw percentage improves markedly near the end of games. Are statistics kept at the game level only or would it be possible to determine whether or not I'm just guilty of wishful thinking?

-- Vinny

Mike Waters: Those statistics are kept and Syracuse's late-game, free-throw shooting is better than its overall percentage -- if only slightly. Syracuse is shooting 62.5 percent from the line this season. In the last five minutes of a game or in overtime, the Orange is making 63.4 percent of its free throws.

The main reason for better late-game shooting is the better free-throw shooters have the ball in their hands in the final minutes of most close games. Therefore, Arinze Onuaku has attempted just 15 of his 82 free throws this season in the last five minutes of games. Eric Devendorf, SU's best free-throw shooter, has taken 21 of his 62 free-throw attempts in a late-game situation.

Q: Mike, After some of his dunks, Arinze Onuaku waves his hand in front of his face. Do you have any idea what this hand gesture means?

-- Lenny C.

Mike Waters: I asked Arinze about the gesture and he said he's not going to tell me the reason behind it until the Orange goes deep into the NCAA Tournament.

Not being that patient, I did some Internet-based investigating. The gesture comes from either pro wrestler John Cena or rappers Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana. Lil Wayne and Santana put out an album titled "I Can't Feel My Face" and Lil Wayne waves his hand in front of his face. Cena waves his hand in front of his face before finishing off a foe and calls the gesture "You Can't See Me."

Q: What is the most wins Syracuse has ever accumulated in a season over top 25 ranked foes? This year we have four, and with all the ranked teams in this year's Big East Conference, there must be a chance to set a school record.

-- Thanks, Scott S.

Mike Waters: I love this type of question! The answer is eight. Syracuse defeated eight nationally-ranked teams in both the 1988-89 and 2002-03 seasons.